A viral X post claims that Nigeria’s new national anthem was not recited during the Democracy Day event at the national assembly.
The post has sparked criticism of President Bola Tinubu, with many asking if the national anthem has been changed again.
The claim was posted by an X user @OurFavOnlineDoc, with a 50-second video showing Tinubu at the national assembly addressing lawmakers.
The post has garnered over 137,000 views, 3,500 likes, 235 comments, and 1,900 shares on the platform.
“This video captures moments just before and after Bola Tinubu’s speech,” the post reads.
“On Nigeria’s democracy day, the national anthem was NOT used.
“On your mandate —a brainless, thoughtless declaration of mindless sycophancy- was sung instead. This is a mafia state.”
On May 29, 2024, Tinubu signed a law reinstating “Nigeria, We Hail Thee” as the national anthem, replacing “Arise, O Compatriots” — a decision that sparked criticism about governance priorities.
Nigeria celebrated 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule on June 12.
Tinubu, who was initially scheduled to deliver a Democracy Day speech, canceled the address but spoke before a joint session of the 10th national assembly.
During his speech, he conferred honors on some Nigerians — both dead and alive — who had contributed to the country’s democratic journey.
WAS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM SUNG DURING THE JOINT SESSION?
CableCheck reviewed a two-hour long video of the event uploaded on the national assembly TV on YouTube.
At exactly three minutes and 54 seconds into the video, the guard brigade band led the recitation of the national anthem. This was after Tinubu entered the green chamber and exchanged greetings with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of assembly.
Later, at 1 hour, 33 minutes and 6 seconds, the anthem was played again after a photo session, just as Tinubu bowed before the lawmakers and prepared to exit the chamber.
The viral clip in question has been edited, cutting out both renditions of the national anthem.
VERDICT
The claim that Nigeria’s national anthem was not sung during the Democracy Day event at the national assembly is misleading.
Verified footage shows the anthem was played at the beginning of the joint sitting and at the end.
